Ben Simmons among favorites to lead NBA in assists this season

Ben Simmons among favorites to lead NBA in assists this season

Fresh off a season which earned Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons the 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year award, expectations once again remain sky high.

The 22-year-old guard averaged an impressive 15.8 points, 8.2 assists and 8.2 rebounds per game, showcasing his ability to do a bit of everything (aside from shooting 3-pointers). Simmons finished last season ranked No. 5 in the NBA in assists per game, behind only Russell Westbrook (10.3), LeBron James (9.1), James Harden (8.8) and Rajon Rondo (8.2).

But entering the upcoming season, oddsmakers have pegged the Sixers guard as one of the favorites to lead the league in this category. Per Bovada, Simmons sits behind only John Wall and Westbrook in terms of odds to lead average the most assists per game.

John Wall +150

Russell Westbrook +270

Ben Simmons +500

Chris Paul +650

James Harden +750

Lonzo Ball +1100

Rajon Rondo +1200

Ricky Rubio +1400

The other names listed in Kyle Lowry, Draymond Green, Trae Young, Jeff Teague, and Nikola Jokic all have odds of +1600 or higher.

It’s not surprising to see Simmons get some much-deserved love in this category. After all, he’s the definition of a pass-first point guard and now has a full season under his belt.

If Simmons continues his growth, don’t be surprised to see him take another huge step forward in his young career.